Top 25 Android Apps for 2016

15 years back, a mobile phone was nothing much but a device to call and send messages and if bored, play Snake and Ping Ball. But today, if you fall and hear a crack, you would hope to God that it was your bone and not your phone. That is how much the device has matured from a heavy mobile phone to a light-weight Smart Phone. It is not just the device features or the specs that make it so valuable to us, but the Apps. Want to book a ticket? Calculate distance? Manage finance? Split money with friends? Plan a holiday? Customized reminders of meetings? Recipe to cook a romantic dinner? Stay fit and keep a check of calories? You have apps for all these and more!
But sifting through a plethora of apps and finding the best is both difficult and of paramount importance- because of bugs and virus. So we took matters into our hand and here is a list of top 25 Android Apps that will help you manage your day to day activities. And yes, they are free; so sit back, switch on the WiFi and download like crazy!

Google Opinion Rewards

Complete super quick and short surveys for Google and you’ll be given credit to spend on the store. Ranging from 50p to10p per surveys, this app is a must have for all the Scrooges out there because you can actually earn money!

Although most of you are familiar with the orange colored amoeba shaped blob that comes with the slogan- Be Free, Avast Antivirus & Security’s its PC counterpart is one of the best free antiviruses of 2015. You can access additional features geofencing and remote data recovery through in-app purchases. However, if you prefer just the basic protection, you will find that the app is sufficient to keep malware at bay from your handset.

Greenify

“The battery is getting low: less than 15% remaining.”
The most depressing announcement that our handset can ever give us. It is usually a race against time to get the most from your phone’s battery. Greenify lurks in in the background like a watch guard by notifying you and regulating on how much battery the various apps are using. It freezes the apps you tell it to when you’re not using them, and instantly defrosts them when you need to gain access. Now isn’t that one heck of an app?!

Clean Master

Nobody likes the loading sign that goes round and round that makes you waste 5 valuable seconds. And phones are like magnets that attracts digital debris! Clean Master is that sturdy scrubber that wipes your device clean. The Junk File Cleaning feature of the app cleans your Android device and chucks out any unwanted cache and residual files.

Next Lock Screen

Your phone is a part of your identity. And so beautifying your home screen major reputation management. Next Lock Screen comes with fingerprint scanning (provided your phone supports it), Smart Contacts and Smart Lock settings that let you configure how you unlock your device. Moreover, it also comes with location sensitive wallpapers that changes automatically depending on where you are. Pretty whiz huh?! Other useful features include detailed notifications that show all your missed calls, text messages and app alerts without you needing to “wake” your phone.

Pocket

This is an app that is for the busy-bees out there who do not have the time to read an article without getting interrupted 10 times. Pocket saves those articles and videos that have caught your attention. Later, the app enables you to read and watch your favourites on any pocket enabled device. This is the perfect distraction for bus journeys, and long train trips because the app lets you read and watch offline. May you never be short of something to read or share again!

Opera Max

As a true Indian, we understand that no matter what or how many data plan offers you change, you are always dissatisfied with the result. The solution? Opera Max. It crunches down the size of images and videos, speeds up website load times and typically saves you from around a third to almost half of your general data use. You can thank us later!

WiFiMapper

The name says it all. WiFiMapper crowdsource maps where the community shares where to get free WiFi so that you never should have to rely on your data again.

Snowball

Snapchat, Whatsapp, Facebook, Tinder, Twitter, the number of social networks one have today is endless! But the sheer number of these platforms are not the issue. It is when all the information from these websites are snowballed at you that you stutter. But fear not, for Snowball is adept at handling notifications in separate dropdown trays so that you can easily switch between differnet networks. The cherry on top is that, replies can be left without even having to close down the app you’re currently using

Tengi

Might seem familiar to WhatsApp and Facebook, but Tengi describes itself as the app that ‘gives back’. Its USP is that it automatically enters its users into a prize cash draw every week, where they can win up to £10,000. The more you chat, the more virtual ‘tickets’ you get, so the better your chances of winning. Plus, there are no in-app purchases for you to worry about. Pretty lit huh?!

Timehop

Exactly does what the name suggests. Hops through time. Timehop brings reminders of memories forgotten. That spontaneous road trip, the time you went to the zoo, or perhaps the day you met a loved one for the first time. Timehop gives you a slice of your past life every day of the week by plugging into Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and similar platforms like that.

Prisma

Although we were put off by the sea of the Prisma-fied images in our Facebook feed, our list wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Prisma. It uses AI algorithms and neural networks to make your photographs into strange modern art. It’s all very clever, and quite complex, but the bottom line is it gets weird and wonderful results.

Vine

In three simple words, quickfire entertainment chunks. Vine lets you create six second looped clips. Just hold the record button to start filming, and release to stop – it’ll let you keep adding segments until you reach your six-second limit. You can also browse through other peoples’ creations.

OverDrive

Can I please have the attention of all the bookworms out there please? This app is exclusively for you! OverDrive lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks without leaving the comfort of your house – and best of all, there are no late fees, as titles are ‘returned’ automatically. And how many libraries are in the programme you ask? 30,000 libraries worldwide.

Feedly

Feedly is similar to Snowball but instead of Social Media sites, Feedly helps you to manage all your favourite Internet sites in one handy list. It is now way easier to find new websites, save and share content or read articles online.

Periscope

Live streaming of people broadcasting their activities from their smartphones. Watch your loved one or popular streamers cook something delicious, dance, or even explore a city by foot!

Spotify

The de facto streaming service for Android. Now with Spotify Running, mobile video, news content and intelligent playlist creation bundled in, Spotify is a one-stop shop for all things music.

TunnelBear VPN

TunnelBear grants you access to 500 VPN MBs. In English it means that you can download and watch one hour’s worth of BBC iPlayer video on your Android device before your credit is up.

Songkick

Music is life. Say no more fam! Songkick plugs directly into Spotify or Google Play, and alerts you whenever your favourite artists are on tour near you. Buy tickets in the app, or just use it to keep tabs on your favourites. Don’t waste any more time researching songs and gigs. Ley Songpick do it for you!

Dice Gig Ticket

Hardwell comes to Bengaluru on 12th Dec 2016. We know the mad rush to get the tickets and the extortionate booking fee at the end of things. But worry not because DICE offers no booking fees. How it works its magic you ask? It locks the ticket to your phone, meaning that touts and bots are blocked out.

Bounts

All you couch-potatoes, this one is for you! Bounts plugs into other fitness apps and devices including Fitbit, Moves, Jawbone, MapMyFitness, Strava, Runkeeper and more, and offers real honest-to-goodness rewards for your hard work. Bounts will translate your workout into a number of points – capped at 15 per day for the free app. Points can then be used to receive free vouchers, for brands such as Topshop, Next, Amazon, WHSmith, Tesco, Marks & Spencer and iTunes. Isnt that a great incentive to get you reaching for your running shoes?

Duolingo

This app is pure genius if you want to learn any one of the nine European languages. Using the art of gamification, Duolingo encourages you to learn through photos, speech, audio and typing. I almost wish it could teach us Parseltongue but that’s ok.

TripIt

Just forward your hotel, airline, car rental and restaurant confirmation emails to [email protected], and your itinerary will be instantly available in the app – even offline – along with maps and directions to ensure you don’t get lost. If you use Gmail (and really, at this point, who doesn’t?), this will happen automatically.

Manything (Beta)

IoT products are price and Manything understands that. So, the app takes old phones and makes it your personal connected security camera, so you can keep an eye on your house when you’re away.

Twilight

The research is pretty clear: exposure to screens late at night can disrupt your sleep, leaving you weaker the next day. Enter Twilight. It gives everything a red hue and cancels out the negative effects of the blue light, and massively decreases glare. Even if you’re skeptical about it improving your sleep, you will immediately notice a reduction in eye strain when using your phone in a dimly lit room.
So there you have it! The top 25 apps Android apps that have guaranteed to make your life easier. But wont it be even cooler if you could design a unique app of yours? Check out AcadGild’s Android courses and realize your app dream!